I’m going to be sharing much lighter things in upcoming days. I think. Maybe. Well, we shall see. I know life’s too short to continue to pound away at issues that seemingly never change. Like wars and rumors of wars. Pestilence and disease. Oh, the drama of humanity! It makes me weary. So, here’s a few snaps of some of our recent FUN! How’s that for turning the mirror ball around? Or twisting the kaleidoscope to reveal a new design?
We joined the family at a little quaint family fun amusement park in New Hampshire on Sunday called, Story Land. It was really geared more for the under 8 age group, but they had several adult rides too, like a steel coaster that I squeezed myself into and hit my knee on and got gut punch at the end. Ugh. But overall, it was a fun ride and smooth. Then, they have a wooden roller coaster that was my favorite and a bit easier to fit into and get into and out of. The gut punch at the end wasn’t nearly as bad as the bar that came across the body was larger/wider. Whew! Neither of these went upside down. I cannot do upside down, nor spin around anymore. I didn’t even do the fairly slow tea cup ride.
I loved the old timey carousel though and the horses actually rocked! They were handmade many years ago in Germany and shipped over to the USA! Wow! So, there was a bit of history at Story Land, which I really appreciated. We had some “fair” type food (and unfortunately whatever I ate, a schnitzel type sausage dog, didn’t agree with me and gave me tummy pain), but after a bit of a rest on a grassy, shady hill–I was okay to go on with the day. I took loads of pictures of the granddaughters, but I’m not allowed to share them publicly. Still I enjoyed taking those photos and our family and close friends can enjoy those for years to come. I loved the scenery at the park. It isn’t every park that comes with mountains as a backdrop and a tunnel to walk through to cross the highway! I would like it if Story Land would include something about mining gemstones or such. They do have a large aquarium and our day ticket included entrance into that, so we’re planning on going there on another day. We were all too tuckered out to go to the aquarium on Sunday.
We walked sooo much at Story Land on Sunday that my calves were sore on Monday. It’s taken me a couple of days to recover from a bit of a sunburn too. But the good news is I got right back into my mobility exercises on Monday though, which is unusual for me (typically if I break a daily habit it takes some time for me to pick it up again). So, I’m thrilled to have broken THAT pattern! And I had a Facebook Live conversation on Monday and an early morning Zoom group call today too! So, I’m right back in the saddle (so to speak) for marketing my book, and the radio show, etc.)
Here are a few pictures of the lake in Maine where we camped recently too. Again, I was either walking/swinging at the swings with the girls or swimming, and didn’t have my phone with me. I made a conscious effort to “unplug” while we were at the campground.
My friend, Linda, of Creative Artworks: https://creativeartworksblog.com has suggested I get some pencils and erasure to use while sketching, and I finally got out to a different store the other day and found some! Thus, perhaps my skills will improve?!? Ha! We’ll see.
Here’s a link to the Facebook Live I did the other day with Lori Phillips of The Be Awesome Network. You don’t need to have a Facebook account to view it, but do let me know if that’s not the case: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebeawesomenetwork/permalink/1898555040825659/
This morning’s Zoom call was with a Unity church business group and it was recorded, but I don’t know if they make those things public or not. It was very well received and I had several questions about it too! Yay! If they share the recording out publicly, I’ll share the link next time. If not, then it is what it is. I wish I had personally recorded the audio though, as it was one of my best explanations I’ve given yet of my book. I supposed I keep getting better at explaining what’s in the 600+ pages! Ha!
My book, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why
Here’s the link where you can grab a copy of, We Are All Connected: The How and The Why. An analytical mind searches for answers.
Find me over on my YouTube channel for JIGGLE WIGGLE, mobility movement videos, video book reviews, and more at: https://youtube.com/@spiralsister
Yours in consciousness-expansion as we evolve and revolve during our mystical awakening. All while doing-my-egoless-best, to take you on a limitless, spiraling thought ride to better health, through doing more with ease, to help us sustain the JOY in our lives! (With lots of Gratitude throughout.)
Sheila “Spiral Sister” Murrey
The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe.
About us
My husband is an award-winning illustrator, plus he’s a seasoned guitarist, bass player, and songwriter (with over 1,000 original songs). You can view some of his artwork and listen to many of his songs at: https://www.youtube.com/user/richardmurrey
Hereās a video of us performing on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/416711742?ref=fb-share
Connect with us socially at:
Integrating the Spirals 
Good to read the lighter side of your life Sheila. Lovely reading this and how you found so much pleasure from the break. I can emphasise with spending quality time with the grandchildren. On a recent walk and meal in the local park near my daughterās house, when we visited, my granddaughter sat in amongst the branches of a hazelnut tree with two single small ābranchesā used as her drumsticks. Then proceeded to tell me and show me the best ādrum soundsā from individual branches. Apparently she has done this often before. Then turned around to a horizontal branch behind her and said that āthis is the pianoā. And played an imaginary tune. Priceless. Imagination and invention to be awed by.
Your use of pencils? I use Blackwing and love them. Expensive though! But their best quality is that you donāt need to apply too much pressure in order to write with them. Pencils? One of my favourite YouTubers, a guy called Ron from your side of the pond, is obsessed with buying them. All different ones that are cheap and that he buys on a budget from Amazon. Such a great guy, really funny and definitely worth a look. His site is called āDickey Labsā. Just makes me smile with his personality on camera.
Hope you are now back to your best after the excitement of the break.
šš½šš
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Ah, the inventive drumming sounds sublime, Gray. See, a word I picked up from you! And yes, I could get lost in sitting with someone doing that. I hear you about the pencils too, this is just my elementary foray into sketching with pencils though, so we’ll see how it goes first. I will check out the Dickey Labs YouTube. Thanks for the tip! I just finished a great interview with Rick Beato and Billy Joel that has over a million views so far in just a few days. I’m not a huge Billy Joel fan, but found him amazing, and he mentions the Beatles and Paul McCartney, so there’s that. Cheers! p.s. yes, I walked almost 8,000 steps at the Story Land park the other day, and am thankful only my calves were so for one day. I must be doing something right with all the passive hangs and deep squats. But still, my endurance could use some work.
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Sublime is a nice word to describe all things that leave you feeling elated and positive in life Sheila. Ron liked a comment I made yesterday on one of his posts talking about how people hold pencils in different ways. He said he liked my phrase āit makes the letters danceā. Iāll reply quickly to him later. YouTube is a comments kept short exercise isnāt it.
I went and watched the Rick and Billy interview. Only half way through, so will listen to the rest later. I like Billy Joel. No albums in my collection, but heard him chat before. All round nice guy. And his describing lyrics and dynamics of melody is definitely how I feel when writing songs. I wonder if Richard and yourself found similarities too.
Fair play with your walking and exercise ambitions. You are doing really well it seems. I should look into your mention of passive hangs and deep squats. I donāt mean doing it myself! I believe you mention in your blogs that you have YouTube videos of these exercises you are taking up.
Social media is taking a bit of a āleave it out of my lifeā at the moment. And far too much negativity is going on in the World too. So avoiding all but introvert passive thought. Gentle ātread softlyā lifestyle helps soulās balance. It seems that I have been throwing myself into getting my vinyl listening sorted, struggling with viruses and abscesses battering my health and well being, or getting this burning 100 CDs to give to family and friends ambition sorted. Angie is taking more days off a week currently. So we are going out a bit more too. I have to send in my driving licence for an updated 70 years old photo one. I had my photograph taken yesterday. š«£ These recent illnesses have left me looking gaunt, older and haunted. Quite shocked really.
Cheers, as ever, for your lovely replies Sheila. All the best. šš½šš
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I hear you on the Billy and Rick interview, Gray. Richard will NOT watch it though. I even told him while halfway through the Michael McDonald and Rick interview last night, that he’s not a fan of Michael but was watching IT! Ha! He still refused. I think the interview with Billy Joel is much better, musically, than the Michael McDonald one and I AM a Michael McDonald fan. Isn’t that funny/odd/ironic?
Yes, you’ve been through a LOT in the last year or two regarding your health, so I understand about seeing your picture now. But not too many see those things thankfully. I will be getting a new one whenever I change my Florida license over to the New Hampshire one. I have procrastinated since I haven’t been driving, and because I have to provide all of my name change documents (and haven’t had to have those documents in over 21 years, thus will have to order them from other states). It’s quite the pain. Not as easy as it was for me to change my Florida to Texas back in 1999 when I lived there for about 18 months. (Hindsite, I shouldn’t have changed it over back then for such a short duration, but I didn’t know. And I needed it for work back then, so there’s that). I also hear you about social media. I take breaks often, as I am on several platforms. I just post what I feel I need to post and leave. I’m sick of scrolling and getting subjected to nonsense. I like what I like, though I will give the “other views” some time, as I teaching Integrating the Spirals and do appreciate ALL the views, to some degree anyway. And from writing We Are All Connected, I’ve learned that we’re all connected whether we like it or not. I do discern and limit my time on people and subjects that annoy me. It’s still good to guard and nourish our Mental health. I think each of us can gauge how much of others we can take. Cheers to you, Gray!
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It seems that in the past I have stumbled upon an artist that I have never really bothered to listen to in depth. Then of course their personality is really what changes your mind. I search their music a bit longer than I would do on YouTube. Sometimes you find some decent tunes. Then again, you find that you could ever gel with their sound. Mostly it boils down to the voice timbre. Vocals grab you or leave you cold. There is no in between really.
I never scroll. Ever. Too impactful. Angie does and then gets concerns regarding what she reads. Violence seems to be all encompassing it seems. Then there are the very shallow TicToc type scenarios. Mind you, she does get truly immersed in books too. So there is balance.
Iāve been listening to LP vinyl today and cleaning them before playing each one. Long overdue in some cases. John Kongos, Kid Creole, David Cassidy and Ian McCulloch. All vocals I adore. So a nice singalong session was the ambience of the afternoon.
Shame about your problems with the driving licence. Sounds an absolute nightmare. I can understandā¦.a little. My process isnāt as bad. I have no passport or photo licence. So need to provide other evidence to prove my identity. Original too. Birth certificate, State pension evidence, etc. But my photograph? I have hated my image since teenage years. Very few photos are in existence of my moniker.
I truly admire your tenacity in your ambitions in all your endeavours. Very skilful. It seems tiredness overwhelms currently and long attention spans donāt exist anymore.
Cheers again Sheila. šš½šš
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Ah, thank you for your kind and gracious words, Gray. I admire my tenacity too. I am not quite sure when I developed it. It must have been after I had my children in 1980 and 1982 because before that I was fairly lazy. Ah, but then I did start working at age 15, so maybe I have always had some form of “drive.”
As for your LP vinyl records, bravo dear sir!!! I really had thought about getting a record player and collect my favorite albums (again), but will save that for when I can no longer type or see. Hoping that day never comes, but one never knows. I do have all of my all-time favorites, or most of them anyway, on a YouTube playlist on my channel. I start that playlist when I get in the sauna. I usually get through a half a dozen at a time that way. Or I play a CD in the little mini stereo radio combo CD player Richard gave me as I still do own about 3 dozen CDs. Though he has converted them all to mp3 so we can listen to favorites on my laptop or phone.
So, how do you get along without a photo ID? Everywhere here requires it for certain things, like if one writes a check, or sometimes if using a credit card to rent a car, stay in a hotel, etc. I know you’re old school and vintage about so many things, but THAT’s something I’d not heard from anyone in decades (living without a photo ID)! Wow! You never cease to amaze me, Gray!
I am working on releasing myself from “scrolling.” I hear you. And glad Angie has found balance. I have 10-12 books in progress all the time it seems. And perhaps that’s my attention span shortening too, Gray. Cheers!
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I imagine your mind as an ever whirring entity Sheila. Searching, finding answers, then searching once more for either more answers or alternatives. And once answers and alternatives are found? Experiencing the results in a self/personal exercise undertaking. I suppose I find my own thoughts settle on a simple ideology now. It is enough for the small phrase of āA journey begins with a single stepā to allow subsequent days and intentions to throw up answers by just going about the normalities of what day to day offers. I donāt want to learn how to write the perfect song. Allow it to come from within. But in capturing the song? Yes. Learning is involved re: technical knowledge. But, I realise no deep dives exist anymore. I capture a sound, and now consider it therapy. No longer want skills to become super great on this platform. Satisfied with achievements at whatever level. Music listening is subjective after all. You cannot truly objectify music. Deep diving for understanding as a nurse has basically put gaining knowledge for knowledge sake onto a ānever do that againā decision.
Subjective and objective listening. Vinyl, cassette, CD, MP3 or streaming? Our ears love specific ambience. So vinyl to many is a throw back in time. If teenage or earlier life had trauma or joy would determine preferred choice. Vinyl, to myself, holds very many fond feelings. Note I donāt say memories, because I have none. But I do know that comfort was experienced in a box bedroom listening o vinyl on a Dansette and then buying a music centre to play albums in our first home together. Albums housed upright in a half dozen wooden boxes that walnuts were delivered in to the health shop we lived above. Walnut boxes that were balanced in 2,4,6 and then 3 on 3 in case the first choice toppled over. Stupid to remember such events. Not really. It tells me that the simplicities in life matter more than the complicities. We could have bought a substantial cupboard for them. But the boxes worked.
I digress too Sheila. Again though, thank you for sharing your past and current life experiences. They are fascinating and are fabulous evidence to show that you do indeed have an ever enquiring mind. Much appreciated.
All the best. šš½šš
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Beautiful, Gray. Your wisdom and depth always fascinates me! Speaking of music in the first home, a stereo was the first household furnishing my parents bought (they told me many times). I wish I could visualize those walnut boxes of which you speak, though I have seen bookcases and filing cabinets fall over, so close enough. I don’t think it’s stupid to remember such events. I agree it’s the simple things that we recall sometimes that keep us curious about how life works. I do have an ever enquiring mind, for sure, Gray! Thanks so much for checking out my post, audio, text, etc. Cheers!
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Cheers Sheila. Music is a very important factor through life really. It lasts throughout years on decades for consistency. I was playing a few vinyl albums today of Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. They were my brotherās albums. Fifty years in existence.
The walnut boxes are simply rough pine boxes that the nuts came in to the Wholefood shop where we lived as our first rented apartment/flat. They are really fashionable now. Angie has some very similar ones in her shop which her fresh fruit and vegetables are displayed in.
Your ever enquiring mind keeps life interesting for you. Thatās a healthy outlook to grasp and keep on doing. All the best Sheila.
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Great post and awesome photos, Sheila!
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Thanks so much, Edward! It was quite rewarding in multi-ways.
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Awesome!
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Love the photos… So wonderful that you have these family memories, laughter, nature, and simple adventures…. These are precious gifts that refresh our hearts.
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It sure was refreshing, Willie. And dearly memorable. Thanks so much for stopping by!
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What a refreshing and heartwarming post! It was wonderful to take a break from the heavier side of life and share in your family’s joyful adventure. Your descriptions of Story Land, the beautiful mountain scenery, and the peaceful Maine lake painted such a vivid picture. I especially admire your decision to unplug and simply enjoy precious moments with your loved ones. These are the memories that truly last a lifetime. Thank you for sharing such a delightful slice of happiness! šæš
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Yes, indeed it was, Mr. Verma. I’m so glad I went even though it was a LOT of walking. Way more than is typical for me. But thankfully, I recovered in just one day. A delightful slice of happiness to be sure. Beautiful way of stating it.
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Thank you! I’m so glad to hear you recovered so quickly. It certainly sounds like all that walking was well worth it for such a memorable experience. Sometimes the best adventures ask a little more of us physically, but they reward us with lasting memories. Wishing you many more delightful slices of happiness on your future journeys! šš¶āāļøš
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Excellent pics, Sheila! It looks like you had a whale of a time.
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